Synapse 2013 Vol. 1 - The Chester County Hospital

ody’s slightest movement. With the TrueBeam, radiationfields can be tailored tightly, directly targeting the canceror area at risk.“When we are treating some of the more challengingcancers – where tumors are in areas exposed to lots oforgans and healthy tissues – we have to be very careful.Movement is inherent to the human body and can’t beavoided, so precision is absolutely paramount when targetinga tumor. The slightest shift in the patient’s positionor movement in the body, even the lungs as they expandduring breathing, can throw off radiation targeting,” explainsDr. Siegal, who is also a Clinical Assistant Professor at theUniversity of Pennsylvania Health System.She adds, “The TrueBeam can detect the smallestmovements during a treatment session. It has the ability toautomatically adjust where the delivery beam is directed;allowing radiation to hit its intended target, protectinghealthy organs and tissues.”As the patient breathes and the lungs inflate and deflate,tumors are pushed in different directions, becoming bothmoving and shape-changing targets. TrueBeam containsa respiratory-motion management feature that is specificallydesigned to track movement of tumors as the patientbreathes. The system ensures that radiation is only deliveredwhen the tumor is within the beam’s line of sight. It evenrecognizes unplanned disruptions in the patient’s breathingcycle, such as coughing or sneezing.The added safety of the TrueBeam does not end withprecision when targeting the tumor. The TrueBeam also hasan internal collision protection and avoidance componentthat protects the entire patient while the linear accelerator’sgantry (the head of the machine) moves around their body,which means safeguarding patient positioning does notsolely rest on the professionals operating the equipment.The system itself continually monitors where the patientis located throughout treatment, using special sensors tocontinued...Radiation Oncology Team Back row, from left: Robert E. Krisch, MD, PhD, Radiation Oncologist;Kathleen Devlin, RT(T), Radiation Therapist; Eileen McDevitt, RT(T), CMD, Dosimetrist; Amy Ferris, RT(R)(T), Supervisor; RamahWilliams, RT(R), Student therapist; Andre Kalend, PhD, Physicist. Front, from left: Ann Marie Siegal, MD, Radiation Oncologist;Monica Sekela, RN, BSN; Lynne Davis, RT(R)(T), Radiation Therapist; Susan Nichols, Unit Secretary; and Marcella Kubovsak, RN.The Chester County Hospital and Health System 13